In the Principles Office: Tom Ryan the Art Student

April 7, 2018 @ 8:00 am - November 11, 2018 @ 5:00 pm

Art is not easy. Even those with natural ability often attend schools and studios to perfect technique and application. Western artist, Tom Ryan (1922-2011), invested six years and three schools in his education; but what did he study? What was it like at the Art Students League in 1951? His lecture notes and assignments answer these questions and more.

In April 2018, step into the classroom with Ryan as he takes “General Illustration” with famed teacher Frank Reilly. Learn the principles of art as he did; the meaning of snow on the shoulders; the difference between hues and values; the importance of anatomy; and the draftsmanship precision of perspective. This is not Art History 101. There are no surveys or slides. It is a scientific and systematic approach that can transform how people see and experience art.

*In the Principles Office: Tom Ryan the Art Student is the second of two exhibitions that explore different aspects of Ryan’s history. The first, Cartoons & Comics: The Early Art of Tom Ryan, focused on the humorous and entertaining drawings from his high school and Coast Guard years.